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Topic : 06/13 Dr. Phil Scam, Part 1

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Created on : Friday, November 03, 2006, 01:02:13 pm

Author : DrPhilBoard1

(Original Air Date: 11/9/06) You hear about scams all the time -- e-mails and voicemail messages claiming you’ve won valuable prizes. But Dr. Phil is outraged by what some con artists are doing to him, his family and his viewers. A group of scammers has been baiting unsuspecting viewers with a phony 800-number, then taking their money in exchange for phone therapy sessions with Dr. Phil and Robin. These bogus Dr. Phil staffers were asking for anywhere from $375 to $1,000 for a consultation. One viewer, Renee, fell prey to their tricks. She wrote to Dr. Phil for advice to save her marriage, but ended up in the middle of a major con job. Then, Robin makes a call to the scammers. It’s a conversation you don’t want to miss! Plus, find out what happens when Dr. Phil sends private investigator Harold Copus to set up a sting to ask some tough questions! Join the discussion.

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Waiting to see!!

I cannot wait to see this. From the previews Dr. Phil looked so angry, rightfully so! How can people try to scam other innocent people for their own personal gain!??! Bless these people who have been scammed, and punish the scammers in the most harmful way. I guess we will see what happens..

The times.........

I cannot wait to see this. From the previews Dr. Phil looked so angry, rightfully so! How can people try to scam other innocent people for their own personal gain!??! Bless these people who have been scammed, and punish the scammers in the most harmful way. I guess we will see what happens..

....desperate times makes desperate people. Yes, it is sick. THEY make the wrong choices, regardless of the times, though. They would do it ANYWAY. Haven't you heard people say to criminals...."You could have MADE this money in a legal way and avoided the slammer!"?

They probably put a lot of time and effort into it and even if they had flipped burgers at McD's they would at least be making HONEST MONEY.

86-year-old scammed

Am I ever glad to see this topic. I have wanted to tell someone about this for so long, but my mother-in-law (using MIL for short) was so ashamed that she did not want the small town she lives in to know. Here is her story the best that I can relay it:

After shopping at a local Wal-Mart 20 miles from her home, she returned to her car at which time a woman jumped in the passenger side door and said she had found some money, approximately $100,000 and wanted to know if my MIL would share it with her. Of course, my MIL told her "no" that she did not want any part of it. After talking for a while, the woman told her that she needed to meet with a lawyer across the street and want MIL to take her over there in the car. MIL took her over to this what she was told was the lawyer's office. The scammer took her around the back way and had MIL park on the west side of the building. The building ends up being Cracker Barrell and MIL never realized that until a week later when she took us to the "lawyer's office." The scammer asked MIL to wait in the car and she would be right back. She waited, as ordered, and upon the scammer's return, had MIL take her back to Wal-Mart, had MIL give her her address and phone number, and left. MIL told us, her son and myself, of the incident several days later, and we both warned her not to participate in any phone conversation with a stranger nor answer the door to any stranger.

One month later, there was a knock on her country home's carport door. She looked out to see three people; a black male, white male, and white female. They flashed badges at her saying they were the FBI investigating a scam that happened at the Wal-Mart in the local town where she had shopped. The white male and female forced themselves into the house and the black male returned to the van. They convinced her that they were legal and not to fear. Even had her sign a paper saying she would cooperate. They spent two days brain-washing her saying they needed her to check money out of her checking, savings, and any other accounts to test the money to see if it had anything to do with the scam. She should have called us, but they warned her not to call us or anyone as it would harm the investigation.

On Day 2, they showed up at her house and went to four of her banks where she had two checking accounts and two savings accounts with CD's in them. Upon talking with the bank employees later that afternoon, they said they thought it was strange that MIL would be in there asking for money, but gave it to her anyway without questions other than one of the clerks said she would escort her to the car for safety. MIL refused the help. After MIL got the money, she met the black male behind a convenience store and gave him the money. He told her the other two had asked him to meet her and get the money'; that they were not able to get there in time. Shortly after giving him the money, the white female showed up and got in the driver's seat of MIL's car. She started taking MIL home and got about 15 miles down the road at which time she told MIL that the men in the van were flashing their lights at them and she needed to see what they needed. She pulled over, went back to the van, returned to MIL's car and put a manilla envelope in the glove box. Scammer lady told her not to open the envelope until 1:00 p.m. MIL returned home and waited until 1:00 to open the glove box. At that time, she found napkins in the envelope and realized she had been scammed.

MIL called us immediately hollering and crying saying "I've been had." We rushed down to the little town, first calling the Sheriff's office as well as the local Police. When we got there 1-1/2 hours later, the Sheriff was there talking to her. The Sheriff's office tried to get fingerprints, but to no avail. They were very clever. Bless her heart, she was scared to death.

After the Sheriff's investigation, the FBI was called who has done very little to help with the whole ordeal. I've called them several times, but to no avail. They came out I believe the next day and also tried to lift some fingerprints. Nothing showed up from the reports though. They did do some investigation such as obtaining videos from the convenience store, from a Burger King, where the lady had driven by to get a hamburger with MIL in the car, and even at the local Kentucky Chicken drive through. They did, however, come to her house on two occasions wanting her to identify the woman and black man. She identified the black man and that is the last we have heard from them. It has been well over one year since we have been informed of any new developments and believe me, I have called several times leaving messages, but nobody will return my messages.

MIL is so embarrassed about the whole incident saying why was she so stupid, and why didn't she call us. Oh, my goodness, if she had called us, we might could have been there with the police and caught the sorry idiots.

Just wanted to share this with you. Feels good to finally get to tell someone that it seems makes a difference. Of course, our family knows, but very few people outside know anything about it.

desperate and hopeless...

I might have been susceptible to this scam. In desperation and hopelessness, with nowhere else to turn, I've written Dr. Phil & Robin for help. If I'd gotten a call that they were willing to help me, I would have been elated; and if they were charging for the help, I would have paid. At times, I've thought that I would give Dr. Phil everything I have for his help, if that's what it took. A child's life is priceless.

Ashamed Of What Is HappeningTo U.S.

What is happening to us as a nation! It is so ugly out there I don't want to leave home, I screen calls and have so many blocks on my computer I almost feel isolated...but SAFE!! I can't wait to see this 2 part show as I know Dr. Phil can resolve any problems. SHAME ON YOU TO WHOM DID THIS TO ROBIN & DR. PHIL. They reach out everyday in the most special way possible to help so many........I just can't believe this has happened to such special people. Robin & DR. Phil as 1 citizen of the U.S., I'm very sorry that you great folks have been done this way. Much Love Always!!

scams

we feel that we have been treated un-fairly, like in a scam. we had some troubles with the house that i have been living in for 28yrs now. had some hard times, filed bankruptcy, then the hub went from a $16 an hour job down to a $12 an hour job. that with the bankruptcy, well wasn't too good at the time. the house foreclosed and was going up for auction when titan capital said they would help us out, buy the house and let us live here, renting it back from them. the house payment went from $896 to $1200. we think because they knew we couldn't make the payments if it was up that high and they would kick us out and take it over. they said we could buy it back for $188,000, which is kindof steep for this area of poquoson. during hurricane isabel this area of town was under 3.5 to 4ft of water, we know that cause we stayed. most of the houses that sold were prices like $35,000, $80,000 and nothing sold over $100,000. houses got jacked up about 3 to 4ft. one around the block from my house was priced at $225,000 4 months ago and is now down to $219,000 and i'm sure will go down even farther before it's sold. last year my house was appraised by a local realty company at $147,000, that is how much titan capital said they paid the mortgage company for it, tho the papers i got from the mortgage company said it was paid in full at $130,000. if titan capital is saying the house will sell at $215,000 then why is it insured for only $131,000? sure sounds like a scam to me. it's going to take them about $188,000 if not more to get the house up to the point where they can sell it and they surely aren't going to make a profit on it like they think. houses don't sell in a flood zone that is 6ft below mean sea level.

Scammers

I'm curious as to how the scammers knew that Renee was even contacting Dr. Phil about her personal problems - how did they know her private information (phone number, etc.) as to even contact her??? Dr. Phil is right to confront this - this type of situation could definitely affect how the public view the integrity of his show, of him. I personally believe in Dr. Phil and that he'd never, ever tolerate this means of conduct....that he is perfectly within his rights to face this, demand the truth and insist on the scammers to desist!

I can totally relate.

What is happening to us as a nation! It is so ugly out there I don't want to leave home, I screen calls and have so many blocks on my computer I almost feel isolated...but SAFE!! I can't wait to see this 2 part show as I know Dr. Phil can resolve any problems. SHAME ON YOU TO WHOM DID THIS TO ROBIN & DR. PHIL. They reach out everyday in the most special way possible to help so many........I just can't believe this has happened to such special people. Robin & DR. Phil as 1 citizen of the U.S., I'm very sorry that you great folks have been done this way. Much Love Always!!

People get taken advantage of every day now. As of this point in my life, I am 33, I feel exactly the same!! Adolescents are disrespectful, lazy, and spoiled. Adults are snippy and rude, and sometimes downright UGLY!! No one wants to take responsibility for their actions anymore, everything is either excused or fought about- never accepted. This world is much more different now than it was even when I was in high school. I take precautions to ensure mine and my family safety, sometimes over-the-top measures. It is better to be safe than sorry. It is a shame that we feel a prisioner to our own society in which we created. Only the sweet Lord can provide us peace and comfort.

I love and respect Dr. Phil. I hope when he does catch these pitiful, obviously 0-Life people, he throws it to them. GO DR. PHIL!!!!!

warning

I just wanted to let you all know there is another scam going around and they are using reader digest name in the scam. I got a letter saying I won a international lottery and there was a check inclosed for over $3,000. They stated they got my name from Reader Digest. I got suspicious when they used Readers Digest name but not their logo. I called the bank that was on the check and found out it was a fraudulant check. I already wrote to readers digest about this and I turned the matter over to the post master general in my area. There are alot of scammers out there. Take the time to check things out.